Chapter 353: Stiff but Unyielding

Yiwu County in Yizhou was the first prefecture to enter Beiting, which is today’s Hami in Xinjiang. Since early March, Tang troops from various places had begun to gather in Yizhou. Except for the troops from Xiaobolü due to the long distance, most of the Anxi troops from Kucha, Yutian, Suiye, and Tingzhou had arrived. By mid-April, nearly 70,000 Anxi troops had gathered in Yizhou.

Dense rows of Anxi tents were set up outside Yiwu City, stretching for three li. Continuously, more troops arrived from the distant west, joining this massive camp.

Li Qing’an had been in Yizhou for over a month. His daily routine involved reviewing large amounts of intelligence sent from various places. Cui Qianyou led his troops eastward continuously, but he sent two messengers every day to report on the progress of their advance to Li Qing’an.

Another source of intelligence was the Han-Tang Association, which sent reports from various regions of the Tang Dynasty. This was originally the Han-Tang Association’s own intelligence network, but after slight modifications by Li Qing’an, it became his own intelligence network. There was a pigeon relay station in Yiwu, where intelligence sent from various places kept flowing into Li Qing’an’s hands.

The central command tent in the camp was located in the middle of the camp—a huge white tent. This was where senior Anxi generals gathered to discuss important matters. Adjacent to the central tent were four smaller tents, each connected to the main tent via a small door. There was a sand table tent, Li Qing’an’s sleeping tent, a small meeting room, and a place where he handled daily documents.

At that moment, Li Qing’an was in the sand table tent, intensely studying the map of the Guanlong region. After years of work, he not only had a sand table model of the entire Anxi region but also detailed maps of key areas such as Hezhong, Hexi, and Guanlong. The maps were extremely precise—mountains, rivers, and plains were almost identical to reality. Even bridges, cities, villages, population numbers, food production, and troop deployments were marked on the sand table using small tags. It could be considered a highly strategic, comprehensive three-dimensional map.

Of course, while the camp remained fixed, the troops kept moving, and populations migrated, so this information needed to be updated regularly.

Li Qing’an was focused on the Guanlong region because he had just received urgent intelligence that Li Longji intended to travel to Shuofang in person to negotiate with the Uyghurs the terms for withdrawing their troops. He also received news that An Sishun had refused to hand over power. At the same time, he learned that Ge Shuhan was leading his troops into Dafei Chuan. Both of these developments were within his expectations—neither An Sishun nor Ge Shuhan would easily surrender military control. Among the seven military governors, aside from the Hedong governor, Prince Li Wan, the only one who might be easier to deal with was He Luguang, the governor of the Five Prefectures in Lingnan. The other five military governors were none easy to handle.

Li Longji’s intentions were too obvious, which made the other governors wary and eager to avoid having their power seized. By traveling to Shuofang in person, Li Longji claimed to be negotiating with the Uyghur khan, but in reality, he aimed to seize An Sishun’s military power by force.

According to intelligence, Li Longji was assembling a force of 200,000 troops to attack Shuofang, but Li Qing’an knew that number wasn’t accurate—Li Qian alone lacked 30,000 troops. Li Qian had originally planned to lead 70,000 troops north, but in reality, he only had 40,000. Additionally, there were 80,000 troops from Guanzhong. Li Qing’an didn’t take these troops seriously either. The original Guanzhong troops were well-trained, but Gao Xianzhi had dispatched 100,000 of them to Jiannan due to shortages in fighting the Nanzhao, and they never returned. More than half of these Guanzhong troops were newly recruited soldiers with little combat experience, and a large portion were elite imperial guards from prestigious families. They might be suitable as ceremonial troops, but sending them to battle was rather problematic.

What concerned Li Qing’an even more was the Hedong troops crossing the Yellow River. He couldn’t understand why Li Longji would make such a decision—it only indicated that Li Longji had become extremely incompetent or was willing to ignore all consequences in order to seize An Sishun’s power.

“Have you sent for Master Yan?” Li Qing’an asked his bodyguard over his shoulder.

“Reporting to the general, he’s already been sent. He should arrive soon.”

“Hmm!” Li Qing’an nodded. Suddenly, he remembered something else and ordered, “Send a pigeon message to Chang’an immediately. Tell Chang Jin to find out as quickly as possible where the Imperial Concubine has taken refuge.”

This was another piece of news Li Qing’an had just received—there were rumors in the palace that Yang Guifei had left the Daming Palace and become a female Taoist priest outside the palace. Li Qing’an knew a little about this—Yang Guifei and Li Longji had a poor relationship, which also affected him somewhat. He was very worried about Yang Guifei’s safety.

At that moment, Rushi came in through the small tent door beside them, holding a bowl of medicine in her hands, and said with a smile, “Does the eldest brother really care so much about the Imperial Concubine?”
Since the incident with the Byzantine princess, Mingyue no longer trusted Li Qing’an’s self-discipline very much. To keep an eye on him, she had Rushi follow him around to take care of his daily needs.
Generally speaking, as long as there was no war, it was quite normal for a Tang army commander to bring a woman with him when traveling.
Of course, the Anxi Army also had female guards, which was a distinctive feature of their army. Besides the Anxi Army, An Lushan’s Fanyang Army also adopted this system of female guards. Additionally, Gao Xianzhi’s Jiannan Army had a group of female archers, which was another notable feature.
Apart from these regular female soldiers, there were also some special women in various armies—military prostitutes. Women served as a lubricant to stabilize troop morale, and their presence was crucial for armies. They existed in almost all major armies. Although the Anxi Army traditionally did not have military prostitutes, each military governor would allow prostitutes to come and offer their services. The officers in charge of setting up camps would specially erect a dozen or so tents outside the main camp. Once soldiers were given permission, they would flock there to enjoy the company of women. The soldiers called these tents “beauty tents.” Of course, most of these prostitutes had nothing to do with the beauties themselves.
This time, Rushi came to Yizhou with Li Qing’an. Not only did she have to take care of his daily needs, but she also had to assist the old Sogdian doctor Borodo in treating him. Healing Li Qing’an’s illness couldn’t be done just by giving him a dose of medicine for a few months; it required long-term observation, constant adjustments to the dosage, and at least three to four months, or even longer.
Treating Li Qing’an’s illness involved some of his private matters. His personal guards were not suitable, and other women were even less appropriate. Only his own woman was the most suitable.
“Eldest brother, take the medicine!”
Rushi handed the bowl of medicine to Li Qing’an. Seeing a hint of awkwardness in his eyes, she smiled and said, “Is it my question that makes you feel embarrassed?”
Li Qing’an took the bowl of medicine and laughed, “Where did you get such ideas? The Imperial Concubine has been kind to me, and she has taken Mingyue as her sister. It’s only natural for me to care about her. Besides, she is also my disciple. You’re overthinking it. I’m just worried that she might be taken advantage of by bad people, that’s why I want to protect her.”
Rushi giggled and said, “I was just asking casually. Why do you need to explain so much?”
“Well… if I don’t explain clearly, you might write a report to your elder sister again, making my life even harder.”

“That’s just because you’re feeling guilty; there’s nothing to say about such things.”
Rushi pointed at the medicine bowl and said with a smile, “Hurry up and take your medicine! It’ll get cold in a moment.”
Li Qing’an drank the medicine in one gulp. At that moment, Yan Zhuang walked in quickly, smiling and saying, “When will the great general let us meet the young marshal of Anxi?”
Li Qing’an also smiled and replied, “I’m working on it. It should be soon!”
Yan Zhuang then joked with Rushi, “Miss Rushi, you bear a great responsibility!”
Rushi blushed, took the empty bowl, and hurried off to the back tent. Li Qing’an pointed to a chair, signaling him to sit down. “Sir, you seem so happy. Have you heard some good news?”
Yan Zhuang sat down and narrowed his eyes. “Does the great general think it’s not good news?”
“I also think it’s good news, which is why I invited you here to discuss what we should do next.”
The smile disappeared from Yan Zhuang’s face, and his expression turned serious. After pondering for a while, he said, “Actually, I’ve been thinking about this issue. If the emperor continues to weaken the power of these regional lords, it will surely lead to serious consequences. As seen from An Sishun and Geshu Han’s resistance to orders, these key officials in the border regions already have rebellious intentions. Geshu Han and An Sishun may not be able to cause trouble due to lack of troops, but An Lushan is different. He has been governing Hebei for over a decade, with strong troops and ample supplies. To protect his military power, he will stop at nothing. If the emperor insists on taking away his power, there’s a high chance he will rebel. Once An Lushan rebels, the whole country will surely fall into chaos. Wouldn’t that present an opportunity for the great general?”
Li Qing’an shook his head gently. “There’s another possibility you haven’t considered: An Lushan might take a tough stance, making the emperor too afraid to act rashly and instead focus on dealing with Gao Xianzhi. It’s like my campaign against bandits in Hexi. Maybe An Lushan will launch a campaign in Hedong as well. In that case, the likelihood of him rebelling becomes very low, and the political situation will stall there, at least for a few years. That way, I’ll have time to continue managing Anxi.”

Yan Zhuang understood Li Qing’an’s intention. Li Qing’an didn’t want to send troops to the Central Plains yet; he hoped to gain more time to prepare for battle. Indeed, this was necessary. On one hand, Li Qing’an still didn’t have full control over the Anxi Army—only his loyal followers would support him in his bid to seize power, while many officials still supported the imperial court. Thus, he needed time to strengthen his army. On the other hand, the situation around Anxi was unstable—the Tubo might launch a counterattack, the Uyghurs remained powerful, and once the Abbasids resolved their internal crises, they would surely advance eastward. If Li Qing’an entered the Central Plains, Anxi would find it difficult to maintain its strength. Therefore, Li Qing’an still needed time to address these unfavorable factors.

Yan Zhuang walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, then returned to the sand table, staring at the mountains and rivers depicted there. After a while, he said slowly, “Perhaps I have a plan that could create the situation the general desires, keeping An Lushan trapped without allowing him to rebel.”

“Please go on, sir!” Li Qing’an also stepped forward to the sand table.

Yan Zhuang picked up a wooden stick and pointed to the Shuofang region. “An Sishun has too few troops. It’s certain that the emperor will succeed in stripping him of his military power this time. Encouraged by this success, the emperor will surely take advantage of the situation to further weaken the regional lords—either Geshu Han or An Lushan.”

He then pointed to the Longyou and Qinghai areas with the stick. “Geshu Han has already led his troops into the Dafei Valley. That area is extremely rugged, and those with weak health can’t enter at all. The emperor can’t enter either, so he might not target Geshu Han. I guess he’s likely to go after An Lushan directly.”

Li Qing’an remained silent, listening attentively to Yan Zhuang’s analysis. Yan Zhuang continued, “So, to achieve the situation the general wants, the key lies with the emperor. We must force him to abandon his aggressive approach against An Lushan.”

At this point, Yan Zhuang stroked his short beard and smiled. “Has the general thought of my plan?”

At that moment, Li Qing’an’s gaze fell on the Hexi region. Yan Zhuang clapped his hands and laughed. “The general is truly quick to understand!”

He pointed at Hexi with the stick. “That’s right! My plan is to enter Hexi again. Now that Geshu Han has withdrawn his troops from Hexi, it’s extremely vulnerable—a perfect opportunity to seize it. As long as the general sends troops there, the emperor will surely become wary and dare not use force against An Lushan anymore. In that case, An Lushan’s pressure will decrease, greatly reducing the chances of him rebelling. After all, he also needs time.”

Li Qing’an nodded slowly. “Your plan is truly insightful!”

He took the wooden pole, pointed to the western part of Hexi, and said with a smile, “Occupying the entire Hexi region would be politically disadvantageous for me. If I can capture Shazhou and Guazhou, the gates of Hexi will be open to me. What do you think, sir?”
“The general is right. In fact, capturing Shazhou alone is sufficient. Moreover, the general can submit a report to the crown prince and the imperial court, stating that Tibetan scouts have been spotted in the Shazhou area, and that Hexi is now undefended. He can ask the court to permit the Anxi Army to enter Hexi for defense. Once the court or the crown prince agrees, the general will have a legitimate reason to send troops. And by marching on Shazhou, they will inevitably pass through Guazhou and Yumen Pass, thus securing Guazhou as well.”
As he spoke, Yan Zhuang suddenly grinned triumphantly and said, “Aren’t there Tibetan army helmets among the spoils in the warehouses? Why not send people disguised as Tibetan soldiers to harass Dunhuang County, forcing the county magistrate to seek help from the general? Wouldn’t that give even more legitimacy to the mission?”
Li Qing’an laughed heartily and praised him with a thumbs up, “When it comes to schemes and tactics, no one in the world surpasses you.”
……
Seven days later, a Tibetan army of a thousand men appeared thirty li west of Dunhuang County. By then, the Doulu Army stationed in Shazhou had been withdrawn by Geshu Han, leaving only a few hundred local militia in Shazhou. The arrival of the Tibetan army caused great panic throughout Shazhou, and the local people rushed into the city to seek shelter. The governor of Shazhou and the magistrate of Dunhuang County quickly reported the situation to the imperial court while also sending messengers to seek help from the Anxi Army stationed at Xingxing Gorge and the Yiwu Army stationed in Yizhou.
Soon, Li Qing’an received the plea for help. He immediately submitted a report to the court, explaining the situation to the Political Council and Li Yu. At the same time, he led an army of 30,000 men through Xingxing Gorge and marched toward Hexi’s Shazhou and Guazhou.
……
At the very same time Li Qing’an was marching on Shazhou, the northern grasslands were also in chaos due to Cui Qianyou’s actions. On the vast grasslands, an allied force of over 60,000 Tang and Hu soldiers swept in, with cavalry charging across the plains, killing and looting everywhere. A month later, the army reached the area upstream of the Akun River, where the Uyghur camps were located.
News of the approaching allied forces quickly reached the Uyghur camps. At that time, the main Uyghur forces were still in the Jiuyuan area, leaving behind the second son of Khan Gele, Guchuo Teler, Zai Guo Yanzhi Jialuo, along with more than 10,000 troops to guard the camps.
Alarmed trumpets echoed along the Akun River, as women, children, and the elderly fled their camps in search of refuge at the main tent. Just then, a messenger officer rushed over to the entrance of the main tent and cried out, “Your Highness, the enemy is less than thirty li away, advancing rapidly. There are fifty to sixty thousand of them, and their momentum is unstoppable. Please leave immediately.”

Inside the large tent, Prince Guchuoteler was discussing emergency strategies with a group of civil officials and nobles. Upon hearing the news, everyone’s expression changed drastically. Guchuoteler exclaimed in panic, “Everyone, the enemy has arrived! What should we do?”
Zaiguo Yanzhiluo quickly said, “Listen to me! The enemy is too strong; we can’t resist them. We must evacuate immediately. Forget about livestock and property—saving our lives is the top priority!”
At that moment, the tent curtain was lifted, and Bualan, the Uyghur commander stationed there, rushed in shouting, “Take the prince away quickly! I’ll lead our troops to hold off the Tang army. We can buy some time, but if we don’t leave now, it will be too late!”
After saying that, he left the tent, mounted his horse, and ordered, “Blow the horns! Gather the troops!”
“Woo—” A series of horn blasts echoed across the grassland, signaling the assembly of troops. Over ten thousand Uyghur cavalrymen gathered from all directions. In moments, an army of ten thousand was assembled. By then, Prince Guchuoteler, Zaiguo Yanzhiluo, and hundreds of other officials and nobles had already fled south in panic. The grassland was filled with women, children, and the elderly fleeing on horseback. Tents collapsed, milk pots overturned, and flocks of sheep scattered. Cries and screams filled the air, creating a chaotic scene.
Just then, a long black line appeared on the grassland about ten miles to the west—it was the combined forces of the Tang and Hu tribes approaching. Seeing the critical situation, General Bualan swung his sword and ordered, “Uyghur warriors, follow me to fight!”
“Charge!” Over ten thousand Uyghur cavalrymen brandished their swords and charged headlong at the enemy army.
At the same time, Cui Qianyou, the commander of the allied forces, also noticed the approaching army. He waved his hand and ordered, “Slow down and organize the troops!”
The sixty thousand troops immediately slowed their advance and gradually stopped, quickly forming formations on the grassland and organizing themselves. They were arranged in order according to their tribes, with six thousand Tang soldiers in the center. As the Uyghur army got closer, Cui Qianyou shouted, “The army, prepare to charge!”
Countless swords, spears, and halberds were pointed at the Uyghur army, forming a dense forest of weapons. The troops began to move forward. As the two sides got closer, within less than two miles apart, Cui Qianyou saw the moment had come. He roared, “Beat the drums! Charge!”
The loud drums sounded thunderously. The sixty thousand troops let out a roar, like a sudden thunderclap. The army surged forward, their horse hooves pounding the ground with tremendous force, like a raging tide sweeping over the Uyghur army.